FS Digest

Total noob here.

I read that you want the diameter of the butt of your leader to be about 2/3s the diameter of the tip of the fly line. The packaging of my 4 weight line and the packaging of a leader I bought don't include any information about this. Is this something that I need to worry about? Should I just assume that all leaders I buy should work with my 4 weight line?

I read some stuff about matching leader diameter to fly size, so I'm all good on that info.

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by jbaker8484

StlhdSlayer Loc: Portland, Oregon

On my 4wt, I’ve got 5WF line with 4x or 5x tapered tippet down to first fly. Fly fishing general rules include tippet=Hook size divided by 3. Example-size 12 hook should be tied to 4x tippet. Hope this helps🎣

Captain Lahti Loc: Kennewick, WA

Most commercial tapered leaders Will be fine. They usually nay differ in tippet size and length. As well as denoting their intended target. Trout, bass etc. if you are tying your own, it’s likely best to follow another’s recipe. Usually the matching comes from what your experience is with different flies. Or how certain configurations turn over nicely or handle heavier flys like wooly buggers. Investigate simple techniques for making furled leaders. I’ve found they lay out and turn over some heavier fluffier flys better Han a bought tapered leader with a minimal amount of knots. As to tippets, size depends on fly size. Or the spookiness of fish. Then there is the material. Mono for surface and flouro if you want the leader to sink slowly. I use flouro tippets for drys. It’s clearer, stronger for its diameter and has a tendency to sink a bit right next to the fl.

Perhaps the butt section of a leader should have the same bent curve of the tip of the fly line your using.